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PACT launches new LGBT adoption service in Sussex

ADOPTION charity Parents And Children Together (PACT) has launched a new service to help gay and lesbian people adopt a child.

PACT’s new Inclusive Adoption service specialises and focuses on the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in Brighton. The project has been funded by the Department for Education (DfE) to help find more loving and secure families for some of the 4,550 children in care.

The project was launched yesterday (25th September) at PACT’s new office at Community Base in Queens Road, Brighton, and was attended by PACT adopters and representatives of local and LGBT groups including New Family Social – a support network for LGBT adopters.

Speaking at the event, PACT Chief Executive Jan Fishwick said: “This is a very proud day for PACT. This is the official opening of our Brighton office – our fifth - and also the launch of our Inclusive Adoption Service.

“PACT is proud of its excellent reputation amongst the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, and its thanks to a grant from the DfE that we have been able to extend our services to the Sussex area in order to attract much needed loving families for the 4,550 children in care in the UK today.

“PACT is delivering this new service in partnership with New Family Social, a UK network for LGBT adoptive and foster families.

“There are many people in the LGBT community who would like a family, and PACT wants to engage with those people to bust the myths associated with adoption, and demystify the adoption process. We have staff and volunteers who understand the common barriers that might prevent prospective adopters from the LGBT community from enquiring.

“This is a very special occasion for PACT and we look forward to creating many more forever families for children currently in care.”

The ribbon to officially open the service was cut by PACT dads Jacek Kacprzak and Andrzej Kubinski who adopted their two sons through PACT 18 months ago.

The new Brighton office will be the fifth location for PACT’s adoption service. Current offices are located in Reading, Oxford, Pimlico (London) and Old Street (London).

Anyone interested in finding out more about adoption is invited to attend an information evening at the Brighton office on Wednesday 1st October or Monday 24th November. To find out more or register to attend visit
www.pactcharity.org/info.